Tractates on the Gospel of John (continued)
TRACTATE 7 163 doorstep; rise to come to him continually and to learn his precepts."''^ (3) He showed them where he was staying; they came and were with him. What a happy day they spent, what a happy night! Who is there who can say to us what they learned from the Lord? Let us, also, ourselves build in our heart and make a house where he may come and teach us; let him converse with us.
10. "'What do you seek?' They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which interpreted means "Master") 'where do you dwell?' He says to them, 'Come and see.' They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour." Do we think that it was not at all important for the Evangelist to tell us what hour it was? Is it possible that he wanted us to notice nothing there, to seek nothing? It was the tenth hour. This number signifies the Law; for the Law was given in Ten Commandments. But the time had come that the Law be fulfilled through love because it could not be fulfilled by the Jews through fear. Wherefore the Lord says, "I have not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill." Rightly therefore did these two follow him at the tenth hour as witness for the friend of the bridegroom; and rightly at the tenth hour he heard "Rabbi," which is interpreted "Master."
(2) If the Lord heard "Rabbi" at the tenth hour and the number ten pertains to the Law, the master of the Law is no other than the giver of the Law. Let no one say that one gave the Law and another teaches the Law; he himself teaches it who gave it. He is the master of his Law and teaches it. And there is mercy on his tongue, and so he teaches the Law mercifully, as was said about wisdom, "But she carries on her tongue the Law and mercy." Do not fear that you cannot fulfill the Law; flee to mercy. If it is important to you to fulfill the Law, use that covenant, use the bond, use the petitions which the heavenly jurist established and composed for you.
33. Cf. Ecclus (Sir) 6.36-37. 34. Mt 5.17. 35. Cf. Prv 31.26.